Tray receptacle holder



Nov. 13,1934. v. 1.. COVERT 1,980,575

TRAY RECEPTACLE HOLDER Filed July 26, 1935 Patented Nov. 13, 1934 UNITED STATES parser orricr.

3 Claims.

My invention relates to a holder and while primarily intended and designed for connection with a service tray for holding beverage receptacles, it will be obvious that the device may be employed for any other purposes wherein it is found to be applicable.

Important objects of the invention are to provide a tray receptacle holder of the character described, which will greatly facilitate the conveyance of beverages in receptacles from the source of supply to the consumer without liability of spilling any of said beverages, which will accommodate a plurality of receptacles, which is readily attachable to a tray or removable from the latter, and which is adaptable to any type of service tray regardless of its size and contour.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a device of the class stated, which is simple in its construction and arrangement, durable and efficient in its use, compact, sanitary, attractive in appearance, and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention hereinafter disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawing wherein like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

-Figure 1 is a top plan view of a service tray provided with a receptacle holder constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view on line 22, Fig- 40 ure 1.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the securing element embodied in the present invention.

Referring in detail to the drawing 1 denotes a circular service tray including a narrow flaring side wall 2, which is provided with an annular, outwardly disposed peripheral flange 3 at the top thereof. The tray 1 is of the conventional type now in common use in restaurants for conveybd ing food and beverages, and may vary in size and contour.

The present invention, as embodied in the drawing, comprises a continuous, rectangularlyshaped frame 4 preferably provided with rounded corners 5. The frame 4 is divided into four separate compartments 6 by a pair of right angu- I larly intersecting partition members, respectively indicated at 7 and 8. The ends of the partition members 7 and 8 are permanently fixed or secured to the frame 4 at points equally spaced from respective corners 5.

The frame 4 and its partition members 7 and 8, aresupported upon four supporting legs, respectively indicated at 9, 10, 11 and 12, which space the frame and partition members a considerable distance above the bottom of the tray 1. The supporting legs depend vertically from the frame and are rigidly fixed to the latter at the points of juncture of respective partition members with said frame.

The lower ends of the supporting legs 9 and 10 have outwardly extending continuations providing respective connecting arms 13 and 14. The latter are preferablyshaped to conform to and are positioned adjacent to the top surface of the tray 1 to conserve tray space, and extend at right angles relatively to each other. The outer free end of each of the connecting arms is formed to provide a hook 15, which is adapted to overlap and engage the tray flange 3.

The frame 4, the partition members 7 and 8', the legs 9, 10, 11 and 12, and the connecting arms 13 and 14 may be constructed from any suitable material but are preferably manufactured from uniform, round spring wire, and may be joined together, at points required, in any suitable manner, preferably by welding.

The lower ends of the supporting legs 9, 10, 11 and 12 are enclosed by cushioning members 16, and the hooks 15 of the connecting arms 13 and 14 are likewise enclosed in cushioning members 17. The cushioning members 16 and 17 are preferably constructed from short lengths of rubber tubing which may be readily mounted in position on the portions thus enclosed.

My improved holder is fastened to the tray 1 by means of a tensionally extensible securing element 18. The latter comprises an outer casing 19 and an inner casing 20. The casings 19 and 20 telescopically engage each other and enclose a spiral spring 21. One end of the spring is attached to the closed end of the outer casing 19 and the other end thereof is attached to the closed end of the inner casing 20. This connection of the spring 21 allows the tensioned elongation of the telescoped casings 19 and 20.

The outer casing 19 is joined to the frame 4 by a looped connecter 22, or in any other suitable manner, while the inner casing 20 is provided with a hooked connecter 23, which is partially enclosed by a cushioning member 24 and overlaps and engages the tray flange 3.

The securing element 18 joins with the frame corner 5 that is disposed between the legs 11 and 12 and is therefore diagonally opposed to the frame corner intermediate of the legs 9 and 10. The securing element 18 thus exerts an equalized constant tensioned pull on the frame 4 against the attached. connecting arms 13 and 14 whereby the device is securely held in position on the tray 1.

It will be apparent that the disposition and connection of the arms 13 and 14 relatively to the securing element 18, in the manner set forth, allows the connection of the holder to a tray regardless of the shape of the latter. Further, the holder may be readily attached to a tray of any size, it only being necessary to. provide the securing element 18 with a hooked connecter 23 of proper length to accommodate the latter for engagement with the tray flange. Under such conditions, the holder may not be positioned exactly in the center of the tray, but such central position while perhaps desirable, is not essential tothe utility of the device.

As all parts of the holder that contact with the tray l are provided with the cushioning members 16 and 1'7, the said tray will not bemarred, scratched or otherwise damaged by the attach.- ment of the holder therewith.

In practice, a tumbler 25, as shown, or a bottle, or any other liquid container may be positioned in each of the compartments 5, and safely carried or conveyed without liability of spilling anyof the liquid. Owing to the spaced relation of the frame 4 to the tray, the latter may even be inclined at a pronounced angle without the possibility of falling from the tray."

It is, of course, evident that my improved holder may be constructed to provide any desired number of separate compartments. Likewise, the configuration of the frame 4, the location of the s'upporting'legs, and the disposition of the connecting arms may be varied from the disclosure thereof herein illustrated. However, the 'preferred embodiment of the'invention, as illustrated cured against movement on the tray.

The present invention provides a most eflicient device of its kind, which may be cheaply manufactured, and which will prevent the destruction of containers by breakage, as not infrequently occurs'when receptacles are dropped from a tray especially when carried by an unskilled person.

What I claim is: 1. In combination, a receptacle holder for a service tray comprising a continuous rectangularly-shaped wire frame having rounded corners,

intersecting partition members dividing said frame into a plurality of separate compartments, supporting legs depending from said frame for spacing the latter from the tray, a cushioning element mounted on the lower end of each of said supporting legs, a pair of connecting arms joined with the lower ends of respective supporting legs and having hooked ends engaging the tray edge, cushioning elements mounted on said hooked'ends, and a securing element con nected with said frame and engaging the tray edge for tensionally securing said frame in position on the tray.

2. In combination, a receptacle holder for a service tray comprising, a wire frame, intersecting partition members having their ends rigidly secured to said'frame. and dividing the latter into a plurality of separate compartments, supporting legs fixed to and depending from said frame for spacing the latter from the tray,

a pair of connecting arms joined with the lower ends of respective supporting legs and having hooked ends engaging the peripheral edge of the tray, and means connecting with said frame and engaging the edge of the tray for securing said frame to the tray.

3. In combination, a receptacle holder for a service tray comprising, a continuous rectangularly-shaped wire frame having rounded corners, a pair of intersecting partition members dividing said frame into a plurality of separate compartments and having their respective ends fixed to said frame intermediate of the corners of the latter, supporting legs for spacing said frame from the tray, each of said supporting legs having its upper end fixed to said frame at the juncture of the latter with respective ends of said partition members, a pair of connecting arms joined with the lower ends of respective VICTOR ncovEaT. 

